The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-18
WATER WORKS IMPROVEMENT.
Why Savannahians are Drinking River
Instead Of Artesian Water.

Instead Of Artesian Water.
whats the trouble with the artesian
wells." queried MORNING NEWS reporter
of Capt. A. N. Miller, the Superintendent OF
the water works, yesterday.
"Ah, | thought the NEWS would he in
quiring into the matter soon, remarked the
Captain, with good-natured chuckle.
"What about the river waterf Well, come
in and IN give you the facts in the case. ="
After being comfortably installed in a
big, easy chair in the reading room, the
Captain gave the following:
"There are now twelve wells III full opera
ton Some are down 300 feet and others
a trife more four being down TO $50 feet
They do not give as large n flow as was
| expected, and means were devised to add
to their output One of the old wells has
| been rebored, and is now $50 feet IN depth
and flowing TO its utmost capacity With
the additional depth the output is 800 per
cent, greater than It's former capacity.
THE indications are that the others will do
as well when rebored to that depth. In that
event an ample supply of water will be as
sured. To DO all this work and to connect
the last wells completed, it was necessary to
| close off the artesian water entirely, so river
water is now being used. Redoubled efforts
will he made to deepen the other wells at
once so as to have full supply on or before
Aug. l."
The Captain said he would be pleased to
have the citizens interested call at the works
and see the progress and improvements
made. The wells are now flowing and he
says that it is an interesting sight to see
them spOuting forth their millions of gal
Ions daily.
In answer to question as to how much
water was used here he said
I'VE pump daily fully 100000 gallons,
which on the basis of 5000 inhabitants
gives every person lis gallons In most
other cities the daily average is only forty
to seventy gallons per each individual, but
we allow them here half more than the
largest amount and yet they complain"
rs there great waste of water by CON
sumers!n
"Waste!" exclaimed Mr. Miller, 81 should
say there was. ] calculate the waste at
fully 80 per cent of the amount pumped.
II is shame, too, but we cannot help our
selves, | suppose But one of these days
Wen stop these costly leaks and make the
people take more care"
Chow about the gas trouble9n
ooh, pshawm and the Captain smiled;
"when we get the full supply of water, FL
guarantee to attend to this gas matter with
out trouble"
but were not the breaks in your ma
chinery caused by the gas collecting in the
pipes"
''Only to a very limited extent The
trouble is we have been pushing our engine
beyond its power, and the result is some
thing gives away occasionally. But when
we get the twelve wells rebored and con
nected with the mains, with their increased
output, / will warrant we will get on with
out bit of trouble. But come mp and see
us at the works. You will see there some
of the finest machinery of that class in the
Southn
The wells were disconnected Saturday, at
noon, the river water now being pumped
up into the mains. The pumps have TO lift
the river water 22l s feet, while the artesian
well waters rise of their own force some ten
feet, making adherence of thirty-three feet
against the pumps.